NFIB State Director Rosemary Elebash says this weekend’s back-to-school sales tax holiday is a good opportunity for people who support local businesses that are still recovering from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Business is better than it was a year ago, but we still aren’t back to where we were before the pandemic,” Elebash said. “The COVID-19 downturn affected all kinds of businesses, but it’s been especially hard on small businesses. That’s why we’re encouraging our members and everyone else to shop for clothes, computers, books, and school supplies at locally-owned stores this weekend.”
“Small business is the cornerstone of Alabama’s economy,” Elebash said. Small businesses account for 99.4% of all employers in the state and employ 47.5% of the state’s workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. An American Express study found that 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the community and creates an additional 50 cents in local business activity as employees and owners purchase local goods and services.
“Small businesses helped us get through the worst months of the pandemic by making deliveries, offering curbside pickup, and doing other things to provide the things we need while keeping customers and employees safe,” Elebash said. “This weekend’s sales tax holiday is a good opportunity for shoppers to support small businesses and help them recover them recover from the COVID downturn.”
For a list of participating counties and municipalities and other details, visit https://revenue.alabama.
